Method of making wire



May I5, 1928. 1,669,743

, F. c. ELDER METHOD oF MAKING WIRE Filed July 9. 1923 s sheets-sheet 1 NQI May 15, 192s.

F. C. ELDER METHOD OF MAKING WIFE- Filed July 9. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet .2

/Z//vr C. finge, 1y: l f

Wtness'es May 15, 192s. 1,669,743

F. C. ELDER METHOD 0F MAKING WIRE Filed July 9. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E A? War/Icy Patented May l5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLINT C. ELDER, OF MOUNT LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD oF MAKING WIRE.

Application led July 9,

vThis invention relates to the manufacture of wire and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for drawing wire, and has for one of its objects the general improve- 6 ment of the wire drawing art.

Another object is to provide an improvement in the wire drawing art which will eliminate the use of the costly dies used heretofore in drawing wire.

A further object is to provide an improved method of drawing wire which may be practiced with uncleaned and unpickled rods or stock, without lowering the quality of the finished wire. l 4 still further-'object is to provide the novel method, and apparatus for carrying out the method, hereinafter described and illust-rated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus used in carrying out my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the drawing rolls. l

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the rolls. f Figure 5 is a top plan, and Figure 6 is la side elevation of a slightly modified appa-i ratus in which the drawing rolls are rotated by the movement of the wire onto the drawing block.

The apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4 for carrying out my improved method comprises roll housings 2 in which are mounted a pair of conical shaped rolls 3 and 4 journaled in suitable bearings 5 and 6, respectively. The bottom roll 4 has its shaft 7 projecting an appreciable distance beyond the one roll housing 2 and is provided with a gear 8. e

A drive shaft 9 isjournaled in suitable bearings 10 to the rear of the housings 2 and-is provided on one end with a pinion gear 11 in mesh with the gear 8, and on the other end with a pulley 12. adapted to be connected by a. belt 14 to a suitable prime mover (not shown). -v

A draw block or take up block 15 is mounted on a suitable shaft 16 journaled in bearings 17 located forward of the roll housing's 4 and is adapted to take up or draw the wire A from the rolls 3 and 4. The shaft 16 is provided with a pulley 18 which is connected to a drive pulley 19 on the end of roll shaft 7 by a belt 20, thus providing a 1923. Serial No. 650,226.

flexible or compensating drive for the block 15,

The modified apparatus of Figures 5 and 6 is substantially the same as the construction shown in 'Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, with the exception that the shaft 7 of the lower roll 4 is not driven, and, therefore, the shaft 9 and its associated parts are unnecessary. Also the draw block or take up block 22 of the apparatus of Figures 5. and 6 is disposed vertically instead of horizontal as in the construction of Figures 1 to 4.

The block 22 is mounted on a vertically disposed shaft 23 connected by beveled gears :24 and Q5 to a power shaft 2G, which in turn receives its power from a suitable prime mover (not shown).

In the operation of the apparatus of Figures 5 and 6 the rolls 3 and 4 are not driven direct. but are caused to rotate by the travel of the wire A thereon while it is being drawn onto the block 22.

The rolls 3 and 4 of -both forms of apparatus are cone shaped and are provided with a series of circumferential wire receiving or guide grooves 2S.

It will, of course` be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the construction of apparatus shown and described, since various other modified constructions will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. `As for instance, the rolls 3 and 4 may have a plurality of tapers along their length, or a` plurality. of rolls of different diameters may be used instead of tapered rolls, all of which may be used without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

In carrying outmy novel method with the apparatus illustrated in the. drawings, the stock which may be a rolled rod or previously reduced wire is mounted on a suitable storage member (not shown), such as a. reel, and is passed from the reel into the groove at the smallest end of the lower conical roll 4. The stock is then passed over and under the roll 4 in this groove and then up along the forward side of roll 3 and over roll 3 in the 'second groove from its smallest end, then down along the front of roll 4 and over roll 4 in the third groove from its smallest end. The stock is thus passed over roll 3 and under roll 4 progressively in grooves of greater diameter until the point 1s reached where the desired stretch is had, which, as

shown, is the largest diameter groove, or the groove nearest the largest end of the roll 3. Then it is led to the draw or take up block located forward of the rolls. As the rolls 3 and 4 and block are rotated the stock will be moved progressively along the rolls 3 and lt from the small ends toward the large ends. rl`hus when it passes from one groove into the larger diameter groove of the next roll it will be stretched. 'lhat is, as the stock moves along the rolls it will be passed progressively into grooves having a greater linear surface speed, and thus stretched.

The amount of stretch or tension applied to the stock will be sufficient to elongate and reduce the diameter thereof, and will be progressive, although if desired the amount of stretch may vary along the length of the rolls so as to be less as the stock progresses and becomes hardened due to the working thereof.

In practicing this invention it is not necessary to pickle or otherwise clean and remove the scale from the stock, since the scale will be automatically removed as the stock is passed over the rolls 3 and l, and stretched between the rolls.

The action of the rolls 3 and t on the stock trained thereover is such that a uniform working is given over the length of wire extending from the groove in one roll to the groove in the next.

In manufacturing wire by my improved method, the work necessary to elongate and reduce the cross section is done entirelv i stretching or applying tension to the stock,

and, therefore, the use of the well known and expensive dies is entirely eliminated, the manufacture can be speeded up, and the art is generally improved, and the cost of manufacture greatly reduced.

I claiml. The herein described method, which consists in providing a pair of substantially parallel tapered stretching rolls, threading a work piece around thel small end of one of the rolls, thence around a larger portion of thcl other roll, thence around a still larger portion of the first mentioned roll, repeatinr said operations a plurality of times, an drawing the work piece endwise so as to rotate the rolls and stretch the work piece portions lying between the rolls.

In an apparatus for making wire, a driven take-up device, and a pair of substantially parallel rolls at the feed-in side otl the take-up device and disposed in relation thereto in accordance with the disposition of the usual Wire drawing die, said rolls heilig tapered and provided with annular grooves, the work piece being adapted to be threaded around the small end of one of the rolls, thence around a larged portion of the other roll, thence around a still larger por tion of the lirst mentioned roll and thence directly to the take-up device, whereby th: takeaip device will draw the work piece endwise to rotate the rolls, and stretch the work piece portions lying between the rolls.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FLINT C. ELDER. 

